Introductory Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at Limited Cabinet Meeting (through Video Conference) on the Preparation in the Implementation of the Productive and Safe from COVID-19 New Normal Protocol Wednesday, 27 May 2020 at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Distinguished Vice President,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to wish you a happy Eid al-Fitr 1 Shawwal 1441 Hijri, please forgive me for my physical and emotional wrongdoings’, minal aidin wal faidzin. We will continue with the implementation of the productive and safe from COVID-19 new normal protocol.

First, we have started to deploy personnel yesterday, including personnel from the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and Indonesian National Police (Polri) on the field at crowd places in 4 provinces and 25 regencies/cities in preparing the implementation of the new normal, which will be imposed depending on the numbers and facts on the field, especially those related to the R0 (basic reproductive number for COVID-19) and Rt (virus’s actual transmission rate at a given time). If the measure is effective, we will expand, we will implement it in other provinces and regencies/cities.

Second, I ask the new normal protocols that have been prepared by Ministry of Health to be massively disseminated to the public so that people know what they must do, such as keeping a safe distance, wearing a face mask, frequently washing hands, and avoiding crowds. If the dissemination can be carried out massively, I am sure the R0 and Rt curves can be flattened. We have noticed this measure implemented in several provinces.

Third, we will also start to test the new normal in several provinces, regencies and cities where the R0 curve is below 1 and to specific sectors on the field that have the possibility to follow the new normal scenario.

Fourth, in the preparation toward the new normal, I also ask to study the readiness of each region to handle the virus. For regions on the upward curve, where curves are still rising, I also instruct the Task Force, Commander of the TNI, and Polri Chief to deploy more personnel in East Java to suppress the infection rate. And conduct massive sampling, intensify tracking contact of the Patients under Surveillance (PDP) and People under Monitoring (ODP), and carry out strict isolation. We implement these to provinces on the upward curve.

I think that is all my introductory remarks in this Limited Meeting.

Thank you.

Translated by Syarifah Aisyah
Reviewed by Lulu Wuliarti